IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CROP WATER REQUIREMENTS IN HUKKERI TALUK OF BELAGAVI DISTRICT, KARNATAKA, INDIA

Abstract

Global climate change is a serious trouble in this present century. An increase in the temperature may promote detrimental effects on the available water. In majority of the countries agriculture is the vast sector in the use of water, including India. The objective of this study is to verify the effects of climate change on water requirements of the major crops grown in Hukkeri taluk of Belagavi district using CROPWAT 8.0 software. For this analysis, daily climatic data like minimum temperature, maximum temperature, humidity, sunshine hours, wind speed, and rainfall for Base line scenario is used in addition to Crop data and soil data. Future climate data are collected for A1B scenario (2021-2050) using PRECIS model which was established on the basis of Hadley Centre’s Regional Climate Modeling System (HadCM3). Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) of the crop was calculated using monthly average of climaticl data with the help of CROPWAT 8.0 software and then crop water requirement is calculated. The crop water requirement value obtained for Base line conditions is compared with A1B scenario and adaptation strategies for A1B climate change scenarios are suggested.